Contrary Life

Contrary Life is a website covering quirky events across the UK.

  • Home
  • About
  • Events by region
    • North East
    • North West
    • Yorkshire
    • East Midlands
    • West Midlands
    • East
    • London
    • South East
    • South West
    • Scotland
    • Northern Ireland
    • Wales
Home > Theatre > An anti-festive dark comedy at Southwark Playhouse

An anti-festive dark comedy at Southwark Playhouse

By Caroline King - December 16, 2018Posted in : Theatre

Douggie McMeekin - The Night Before Christmas - Southwark Playhouse photo Martyn Andrews

Douggie McMeekin as Gary in The Night Before Christmas (Photo: Martyn Andrews)

When: On until 29th December 2018

Where: Southwark Playhouse, 77-85 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD

£: Tickets cost £20 or £16 for concessions

What is it?

The Night Before Christmas promises to be the darkest Christmas comedy in London this festive season.  Southwark Playhouse presents an alternative tale with a coked-up Christmas Scrooge, his even grumpier best pal, a prostitute and an unruly Elf.

It’s Christmas Eve.  Gary’s not feeling the Christmas spirit.  He’s promised his son some Power Ranger figures, but he hasn’t quite found the time to deliver them, and now his ex-wife is on the attack…

And that’s not even the worst of it. Some tiny idiot has broken into his warehouse, and Gary is pretty sure this isn’t just a festive coincidence; but with no-one else but his grouchy pal Simon to help him decide what to do, could Christmas be cancelled forever?

Anthony Neilson’s anarchic, anti-festive black comedy The Night Before Christmas, has been revived for the first time by director Alex Sutton, with an all-star cast, including Douggie McMeekin (HBO’s Chernobyl) as bitter and twisted Gary, Hollyoaks’ Michael Salami as Scrooge Simon, Unique Spencer (2017 Spotlight Prize nominee) as single mother and prostitute Cherry, and Dan Starkey (Doctor Who, Inside Number 9) as the messed up, junkie Elf.

Michael Salami - The Night Before Christmas - Southwark Playhouse photo Martyn Andrews

Michael Salami stars as Simon (Photo: Martyn Andrews)

This edgy production about finding the true spirit of Christmas features rude jokes, anti-festive debauchery and downright dirtiness, telling the tale of Gary, his motley crew and their big (or not so big) secret that could save him and even Christmas itself.

The Night Before Christmas is equal parts screwed up and joyous, as the cast stick two fingers up at sleigh bells and stockings, recognising that Christmas can actually be a bit rubbish sometimes and that it may have lost its true meaning along the way.

While Christmas is a joyous occasion, for many it can be a lonely and often vulnerable time of the year.  For this reason, The Night Before Christmas has chosen to partner with the UK’s leading youth homelessness charity, Centrepoint.

The production will be collecting donations at the end of each performance to support 16-25 year olds impacted by homelessness in the UK.

More info: southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/whats-on

Related Posts

  • A unique and lively Twelfth Night celebration in London

Tagged With: Christmas events, London, London theatre, Southwark Playhouse

Curiosity of the Week

Woodhenge, Stonehenge’s lesser-known neighbour
Woodhenge - ©English Heritage, Historic England Photo Library

You have heard of Stonehenge in Wiltshire, but have you heard of its lesser known neighbour, Woodhenge? Find out more in our latest Curiosity of the Week…

Top Story

HandleBards hit the pedals again to bring you a summer of outdoor theatre
HandleBards A Midsummer Night's Dream ©Rah Petherbridge Photography

The HandleBards are a Shakespearean troupe who tour by bike. And to celebrate their 10th anniversary, they’re climbing back into the saddle…

What are you looking for today?

  • Alternative Sport
  • Art
  • Cabaret and Circus
  • Cinema
  • Classes, Workshops & Talks
  • Club Night
  • Comedy
  • Dance
  • Exhibitions and Installations
  • Fairs and Markets
  • Festival
  • Food & Drink
  • Heritage and History
  • Interview
  • Literature
  • Museum
  • Music
  • Nature and Outdoors
  • Review
  • Science and Technology
  • Theatre
  • Walks and Tours

Sign up to our Newsletter

Copyright © 2023 · Contrary Life